GOP Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma has joined other Republican senators in advocating for the Senate to delay its scheduled August recess if the chamber cannot pass the party’s three main legislative priorities this week. Speaking on Fox News Sunday on August 2, 2026, Lankford outlined these priorities as passing a continuing resolution to fund the government beyond the fiscal year ending September 30, confirming over 70 of President Trump’s judicial nominees, and advancing a $95 billion reconciliation package that includes election reforms under the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act.

“It’s a lot this week,” Lankford told host Shannon Bream. “If we don’t get it done this week, we’ll keep going until we do get it done.”

The SAVE America Act, strongly supported by former President Trump, has faced opposition from Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), who has stated the GOP lacks the votes to overcome a filibuster to pass the bill. Multiple GOP senators have called on Thune to cancel the August recess, which is set to begin at the end of the workday on Friday and extend through September.

Lankford acknowledged the importance of the recess for senators facing reelection but emphasized that legislative business must come first. “There’s not a plan to leave when it’s unfinished,” he said. He also noted that while the reconciliation package framework, which includes Pentagon funding amid the Iran conflict and assistance for farmers, has cleared a key procedural hurdle in the House, the legislative process will still take weeks in Congress.

Sources